Container

ABSTRACT

A container for closing an inlet of one or more hoses including a sealant cap, a cylindrical component and a cover, with one or more hoses passing through the cap and sealed by gaskets between the cap and hoses and wherein the hoses pass through a stabilization bar. The cover is removable from the cylindrical component, and the cylindrical component is removable from the cap. A viewing window and inlet aperture are provided in a side of the cylindrical component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to a container which can be used as a closure forthe inlet aperture of one or more hoses.

In particular, for spray devices through which stains, lacquers or thelike are applied to surfaces by means of a spray pistol, it isnecessary, after use, to hermetically seal the hose through which thestains and lacquers are aspirated from a reservoir in operatingcondition through the pump in order to prevent the drying out andconsequently, the hardening of the stain in the hose. The spray devicesare often used in building sites and are not required overnight orduring transport. The stain aspirated in the supply hose then hardens ifthese are not kept in motion by means of the pump in regular timeintervals or if the stain comes into contact with air.

It followed that the supply hose could be completely cleaned by thespray device user during a longer shutdown period. This leads, however,to additional time-consuming work, which is cumbersome. The stain orother coating material available in the supply hose therefore becomesunusable and is to be disposed of.

Craftsmen using the spray devices had the idea to hermetically seal thepoint of entry of the hose by means of a receptacle in the form of a bagmade of paper or synthetic material or another plastic pouch during theshutdown period of the spray device. Such a measure has, however, thesubstantial disadvantage that these prior art receptacles may tear basedupon the thin-walled materials thereby not guaranteeing a reliableencapsulation of the inlet aperture of the hose.

Furthermore, the stain available there runs back from the hose aftershutdown of the pump so that the inside of the plastic buildingcomponent is filled with stain. During the removal of the receptaclefrom the hose, the stain runs out and often contaminates the user andthe environment so that time-consuming clean-up work is required.

To operate the spray device, it is often necessary to provide a hoseequipped as a return hose, which runs parallel in the area of the entryopening of the supply hose. The pump may be placed in two differentoperational positions, namely on the one hand, on the operational siteof the stain requirement and on the other hand, in the blending mode sothat the stain existing in the supply hose is led directly via a returnhose and is led from there in the reservoir through which the pump andits supply hose are ventilated. The idling feature of the pump issufficiently known and technically required in order to make possible areliable operational method of the spray device.

If, however, the receptacle or the pouch should surround twosubstantially parallel to one another hoses, in particular it is almostimpossible in the transition area between both hoses, to seal off thelatter so that the stain does not pass from the inside of thereceptacle, whereby there is the danger that the stain from the insideof the receptacle during the shutdown time of the pump or during thetime the pump is connected in closed loop circulation, escapes therebycontaminating the environment.

During the shutdown of the spray device, the latter is often transportedwhich leads to vibrations which could cause the receptacle to slide fromthe entry opening of the hose and consequently, emit stain which wouldcontaminate the environment. The spray device is also brought to a siteduring transport in which stain may also escape.

It is therefore the task of the invention to further develop areceptacle of this type, which guarantees that the end of one or morehoses intended as freely as an inlet aperture, is reliably sealed off tothe outside, without stain escaping during the removal of receptacle,which would contaminate the environment. Rather, the receptacles shouldaccept the stain and should not fall off from the hose—also duringtransport. At the same time, the receptacles should be equipped in sucha way that this cleaning agent or solvent is suppliable for the stain,in order to be able to supply the latter during the idling operation ofthe pump by means of the supply and return hose of the spray device inorder to prevent a hardening of the stain in both hoses.

According to the invention, these tasks are solved by means of thefeatures of the present invention.

Additional advantageous developments of the invention result from thebelow-mentioned requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A container which is applicable in particular as a sealant for the inletaperture of one or more hoses, wherein the container includes a sealantcap affixed to the one or more hoses and a fastening componentattachable to the sealant cap, through which the inlet aperture of thehoses is sealable.

In so doing, the sealant cap is locked strongly to the hose(s), aclosing component may be fastened in a reliable manner whereby the inletapertures of the hose are hermetically sealed towards the exterior. Inso doing, stain running out of the hoses cannot escape from thecontainer developed in this manner.

It is especially advantageous if the sealant components are developed intwo parts and comprised of one cylindrical component and one cover whichis affixable on the sealant cap. The cover is therefore connected in adetachable manner with the cylindrical component so that both buildingcomponents may be quickly and easily cleaned of stain residues.

The assembly and disassembly of the fastening components follows in asimple manner, since the latter is simply to be screwed in or unscrewedvia one external screw thread formed on this to an internal screw threadof the sealant cap. The closing cap is firmly connected with therespective hose by means of a welded joint and may remain in thecorresponding position also during the operational condition of thespray device without the closing cap being soiled by the stain stored inthe reservoir since the closing cap is mounted above the reservoir.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if a viewing window is placed in theclosing component or is made of a transparent material, for example asynthetic material, since in this way, the user may recognize the staindripping from the hoses and may determine if it is necessary to add asolvent or cleaning material to the protective mechanism via an entranceopening in order to prevent a hardening in the hoses of the existingstain. Also the capacity level in the receptacles may be verified.

The reliable locking of the sealant cap follows in such a way that theposition and the diameter of the hose provides the position and theinner diameter of the through-holes, which are incorporated into thesealant cap, is adapted and in this way, also the distance between bothparallel running hoses is sealed reliably to the outside.

In the drawing, a design example pursuant to the invention is shownwhich will be subsequently explained as follows. In detail is shown

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a spray device with a pump, which draws stain from areservoir through a supply hose and a return hose attached to the pump,which runs, for example, parallel to the supply hose, which ishermetically sealed by means of a receptacle during the shutdown periodof the spray device in perspective view.

FIG. 2 shows the receptacle pursuant to FIG. 1, in top view.

FIG. 3 shows the receptacle pursuant to FIG. 1, in side view.

FIG. 4 shows the receptacle pursuant to FIG. 3 with an inlet aperture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

From FIGS. 1 to 4, a container 11 may be removed from which a supplyhose 5 as well as a return hose 6 is securely affixed during theshutdown period of a spray device 1 through which by means of container11 both inlet apertures of hoses 5 and 6 are hermetically sealed towardsthe outside in order to prevent the drying out and thereby the hardeningof the stain stored in hoses 5, 6.

Spray device 1 is comprised of a frame 2, through which a motor 3 and apump 4 are supported. The pump 4 is powered through the motor 3, thelatter receives the electric energy for motor 3 via an electric line 3′.By means of a control lever 7 affixed to pump 4, two operationalpositions for pump 4 may be manually adjusted. Pump 4 serves to aspiratestain, lacquer or the like from a reservoir 10 and to deliver the stainin a supply line 9 to which a spray pistol 8 is connected. By means ofthe spray pistol 8, the stain is applied to a surface, for example ahouse wall. Alternatively a roller may be connected to the supply line 9in place of the spray pistol (8).

It is often necessary to ventilate pump 4 and supply line 5 so thatcontrol lever 7 and pump 4 are to be transported in the secondoperational position so that the stain aspirated by supply line 5 flowsand is directly delivered by pump 4 into the return hose 6 so that thestain flows back to reservoir 10.

During the shutdown period of spray device 1, both inlet apertures ofsupply hose 5 and return hose 6 should be closed by container 11 inorder to prevent an escape of the stain stored in both hoses 5 and 6 andalso the drying out of the stain in both hoses 5 and 6. For thispurpose, a sealant cap 12 is securely fastened to both hoses 5 and 6 ontheir respective exterior side, for example over a circumferentialwelded joint 23. The sealant cap 12 is funnel-shaped so that both hoses5 and 6 project from sealant cap 12.

In sealant cap 12, two through-holes 18 are incorporated. In particular,this can be seen in FIG. 2. The position of the through-holes 18 istherefore adjusted to the position of both hoses 5 and 6. Furthermore,the inner diameter of the respective through-holes 18 corresponds withthe exterior diameters of the respective hoses 5 and 6 is closed off bysealant cap 12 in this manner.

In order to achieve henceforth a hermetically sealed seal between bothhoses 5 and 6 and sealant cap 12, a gasket 19 is inserted into therespective through-hole 18 which is located in this way on the exteriorcircumference of the respective hoses 5 or 6 and on the interior outlineof the respective through-holes 18.

On the through-holes 18 lying on the opposite side of sealant cap 12 inthe latter an internal thread 16 is incorporated in order to achieve theencapsulation of both inlet apertures of hoses 5 and 6 by means of asealing component 13. The sealing component 13 is therefore designed intwo parts and is comprised of a cylindrical component 14 and a cover 15.On cylindrical component 14, an external thread 17 is provided which canbe screwed into the internal thread 16 of the sealant cap 12 so thatcylindrical component 14 is affixed in a detachable manner to sealantcap 12.

In the design example of FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover 15 is screwed in oneinternal thread 16 incorporated in the inner outline of the cylindricalcomponent 14. For this purpose, on the exterior outline of cover 15, theexternal thread 17 is provided. It is, however, possible to insert cover15 like a plug in the free front side of the cylindrical component 14 orto attach cover 15 on the exterior outline of cylindrical component 14.It is important that cover 15 is locked securely and airtight tocylindrical component 14.

The distance between the free end of hose 5 and the floor of cover 15should lie between one and five centimeters and should be measured asprecisely as possible in this manner so that the stain emanating fromhoses 5 and 6 is included in a small space during the shutdown of spraydevice 1 and the latter is also completely filled whereby the additionalemission of stain from both hoses 5 and 6 may be prevented.

In order to verify the fill height and/or the consistency of the emittedstains in the sealant component 13, a viewing window 22 is inserted inthe exterior wall of cylindrical component 14. It is, however, alsopossible to manufacture sealing component 13 completely or at leastpartially from a transparent material, for example from a transparentsynthetic material.

If the consistency of the stain shows that it is about to be dried,cleaning or solvent fluid may be sprayed in the inside of the sealingcomponent 13 via an inlet aperture 21 set in sealing component 13. Thisis to be taken from FIG. 4. Consequently, by means of pump 4, thesolvent fluid of the stain will be mixed in hoses 5 and 6.

In order to affix the sealant cap 12 securely to both hoses 5 and 6, astabilization bar 20 is placed in the inside of the sealant cap 12 whichruns vertical to both hoses 5 and 6 and which is distanced from the headof the sealant cap 12. In the stabilization bar 20, two through-holes 18are incorporated which correspond in their position and in their sizewith the position and the exterior diameter of both hoses 5 and 6. In sodoing, sealant cap 12 is held in two separate areas to both hoses 5 and6. If this fixation measure is not adequate, in addition to this thesealant cap 12 may be affixed via the welding joint 23 with both hoses 5and 6.

Container 11 is preferably comprised of three components detachable fromone another, namely the sealant cap 12, the cylindrical component 14 andthe cover 15, so that both the assembly as well as the disassembly ofcover 11 may be executed in such a way that, even in case of stainemanating from hoses 5 and 6, there is no contamination of theenvironment or the user, since the latter may remove container 11 atleast partially defined by hoses 5 and 6. In addition, container 11 ismade of a substance which is stable and takes on its color in itsinterior in a safe manner.

1. A container (11), for sealing the inlet aperture of one or more hoses(5, 6), wherein the container comprises a sealant cap (12) affixable toone or more hoses (5, 6) and a sealing component (13) affixed to thesealant cap (12), through which the inlet aperture of the hoses (5, 6)is may be selectively sealed.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein thesealing component (13) comprises a cylindrical component (14) and acover (15) removable from the cylindrical component.
 3. The container ofclaim 2, wherein the one or more hoses each have a free end and theclosest distance between the free end of the one or more hoses (5, 6)and the cover (15) is in a range between about one and five centimeters.4. The container of claim 1, wherein the sealant cap (12) has aninternal screw thread and the sealing component (13) has an outsidecontour with an external screw thread and wherein the sealing component(13) is selectively attachable and detachable by engagement anddisengagement of the external screw thread with the internal screwthread.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein the sealing cap (12)farther comprises one or more through-holes (18) for receiving arespective hose (5, 6), and wherein a gasket (19) is inserted betweenthe exterior outline of the respective hose (5, 6) and the through-hole(18).
 6. The container of claim 5, wherein a position of and an interiordiameter of each of the through-holes (18) corresponds to a position andan exterior diameter of the respective hose (5, 6) received in thatthrough-hole.
 7. The container of claim 1 further comprising astabilization bar (20) located inside of and secured to the sealant cap(12) and having a through-hole (18) which runs vertical to the hose(s)(5, 6) for every hose (5, 6) each of which is supported on the interioroutline of the through-hole (18).
 8. The container of claim 1 whereinthe sealing component (13) further comprises an inlet aperture (21), ina side of the sealing component (I 3) through which cleaning or solventfluid may be filled or through which the container (1) is lockable. 9.The container of claim 1 wherein the covering cap (12) and the sealingcomponent (13) are made of metal or synthetic material and wherein aviewing window (22) is incorporated into the sealing component (13). 10.The container of claim 1 wherein one of the hose(s) (5, 6) is a supplyhose (5) connected between a pump (3) and a reservoir (10) and throughwhich stain, lacquers or the like may be aspirated and a spray gun (8)or a dye roller may be supplied.
 11. The container of claim 2 whereinthe cylindrical component (14) includes an open front side and the cover(15) may be inserted as a plug in the open front side of the cylindricalcomponent (14) or suspensible on the outer circumference of thecylindrical component (14).
 12. The container of claim 1 wherein thesealing component (13) is comprised of a completely or partiallytransparent substance.